Powdered soap dispenser for clothes-washing machines



Sept. 26, 1950 T. 'r. WOODSON 2,523,800

POIDERED sou DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES-WASHING ucmuss Original Filed Aug. 25, 1944 Fig.[

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Patented Sept. 26, 1950 POWDERED SOAP DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINES Thomas T. Woodson, Fair-field, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Original application August 25, 1944, Serial No.

Divided and this application October 23, 1945, Serial N0. 623,991

2 Claims. 1 The present application is a division of my application Serial No. 551,097 filed August 25, 1944.

The invention relates to washing machines and tioning compound to a washing machine of the automatic type.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved dispenser or soap box for powdered soap or other powdered water conditioning compound which is adapted to be attached to and to form an integral part of an automatic washing machine and from which powdered soap or other powdered water conditioner is adapted to be removed by water being supplied to the machine, the powdered conditioner being flooded irom the soap box as the water flows through it.

- For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a washing machine embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a washing machine of the construction disclosed in my application Serial No. 551,096, filed August 25, 1944. It comprises a tub or outer casing l in the upper part of which is a spinner basket 2 having centrifugal discharge openings 3 at the region of greatest diameter which during washing serve as overflow openings defining the wash water level. By suitable mechanism in a sealed casing 4, for example that shown in my aforesaid application, an agitator 5 is oscillated for washing or the spinner basket is rotated for centrifugal drying. During washing the basket is filled to overflowing and a continuous circulation of water is maintained by a circulating pump 6 driven by a motor I and having an inlet 8 connected to the bottom of the outer casing and a discharge 9 directed onto an annular filter ill on the rim of the spinner basket. During centrifugal drying the liquid contained in the spinner basket is discharged through the openings 3 and falls into the bottom of the outer casing where it may be stored for use in a succeeding washing operation, or pumped to a drain by a drain pump (not shown).

Water is supplied to the machine through solenoid controlled thermostatic normally closed mixing valves ii and I! either oi which when energized is opened to supply water to the bottom of the outer casing which water is pumped a into the spinner basket by the circulating pump 6 which is running whenever either of the valves is open. The amount of water supplied may be controlled in any suitable manner.

Higher temperature water for washing is supplied to the tub through the valve l2, the discharge side of which is connected by a pipe I3 to a powdered water conditioner dispenser or soap box embodying my invention. Lower temperature water for soaking or rinsing is supplied through valve il.

My improved dispenser or soap box is in the form of a casing which is preferably circular in cross section and comprises a side wall M, a bottom wall i5, and a removable cover Hi. It is of a size to hold the soap or other conditioner required for the washing operation. At its upper end, it is provided with a tangential water admission pipe I! with which the discharge end of pipe [3 connects and at its lower end with a tangential water discharge pipe l8 which connects at its outer end with the interior of tub I. Pipe l8 extends horizontally and projects beyond casing M a distance such that the dry soap particles will not flow out of the dispenser due to the natural angle of repose of the soap particles, which angle of repose is indicated by the dotted line l9. Because of this arrangement, there is no need for a valve or closure for pipe 18.

In the use of my invention, the cover It is removed, the amount of dry powdered soap or other dry powdered water conditioner required fo the washing operation is placed in the casing, and the cover replaced. At the proper time in the washing cycle, valve I2 is opened automatically to admit hot water of the desired temperature through pipe l3 and tangential pipe [1 to the casing of the dispenser. This water, since it enters tangentially, flows around the outside of the dispenser as is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, the water setting up a vortex flow and being discharged finally through discharge pipe l8.

The soap particles are flushed out of the conditioner without any substantial dissolving of the soap in the water. The soap particles are dissolved in the water while the water passes through the circulating pump, the soap being substantially wholly in solution before it reaches the spinner basket. Undissolved particles of soap are caught on the filter ill, further insuring the purity of the water solution. The vortex action flushes the dry particles of soap or other water conditioning compound out of the dispenser quite rapi ly. ordinarily within an interval oi a few seconds. The vortex action results in a thorough scouring of the side walls of the dispenser so that the dispenser is thoroughly cleaned after each use. This is one important feature of my construction since any wetted soap particles remaining in the dispenser tend to dry and form a cake therein.

By my invention, I provide a dispenser or soap box which is simple in structure, permits 01' the desired amount of soap or other water conditioner being placed in the soap box before operation oi an automatic washing machine is startedand insures that the soap is thoroughly and completely flushed from the soap box into the machine.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 0! the United States, is:

1. For use in a washing machine, a soap box for receiving dry particles of soap or other water conditioning compound having an open outlet passage at its lower end constructed so that dry particles will not now out due to the natural angle of repose oi the particles, and an inlet for water connected to the box at its upper end and arranged tangentially with respect to the box for setting up a vortex action in the box whereby the particles are thoroughly flushed from the box through said outlet passage.

2. In combination, a soap box for receiving dry particles of soap or other water conditioning compound, an outlet conduit extending horizontalLv from the box at its lower end a distance greater than the point to which the dry particles will now due to their natural angle of repose whereby the need for a closure for the conduit is eliminated, and an inlet for water arranged tangentially withrespect to the soap box for iiushing the particles from the box through said outlet conduit.

moms T. WOODSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Dat 709,558 Rice Sept. 23, 1902 1,174,336 Menzies Mar. 7, 1916 1,644,699 Ward Oct. 11, 1927 2,036,739 Arnold Apr. 7, 193 2,063,131 Siems Dec. 8, 1936 2,278,769 Chayie Apr. 7, 1942 2,289,515 Mathews July 14, 1942 2,319,192 Sheldon "May 11, 1943 2,339,396 Harvey Jan. 18, 1944 2,410,873 Gayring Nov. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 821,884 France Dec. 15, 1937 

